Christians: DO NOT READ.
Posted by: Miriam Swaffield
on Jan 26, 2012 
This blog is not for Christians. If that fits you, then read on…
This is a blog for anyone who has met someone who calls themselves a Christian, but is not one themselves. This is a blog for students, your story of being a student, and the experience of Christians, Jesus-followers, you may have had at University.
This isn't a blog really. This is a space, a space for story-swapping, question-asking and journey-sharing. This space isn't a place with room for petty insults or naming and shaming. There is no room for attack or someone preaching a point. This is a space, like I said, to be free to share your honest experience and impressions of Christianity in the student world… if you've ever even come across it?
The chances are, you don’t know me (I’m Miriam by the way) but that’s cool. The purpose of me addressing this blog to people who would not label themselves as a Christian is simple. I genuinely want to hear how people from across the nation experience those they come into contact with who are Christians. Particularly in your student years. Simple feedback. But interesting I think... in fact, vitally important.
So, go for it. Leave your story, your thoughts, your experience as a comment below. Be free. This is the space, let’s use it.
Have you ever met a Christian student? What was your experience?
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written by kirsty , February 13, 2012
Throughout my whole life i've been in contact with 'students' in a general sense; from primary, secondary through to uni, who are Christians. Some more passionate than others, but non-the-less, Christians.
I have only openly met one christian at uni, and that was because i shared halls with her in first year. The only reason why i knew was because she was my flat mate. I may have possibly met more Christians throughout my time over the past 3 years, however i wouldn't know because its not necessarily something that comes up in conversation when you're in class, or in hockey training. Those kind of conversations only really comes to surface when you trust the person you're talking to, or feel comfortable going into that much detail about the controversial topic of God.
There was never much emphasis on the CU at uni... due to us being a sporting university, the main emphasis is on sport. Therefore at freshers fair and in freshers week, i think i saw a stall for them.. but not much else; no flyers, not much advertising or marketing of any sort throughout the year, let alone on that day.
There are plenty of churches in the area that i see when walking around .. but i wouldn't be able to pass judgement on the workings of the CU here as i don't know anyone who goes... however within the culture that i am a part of at uni, this wouldn't necessarily be brought into conversation.
Despite the lack of opportunity that i have experienced at my university, there has always been one constant within my life when it comes to Christianity. One of my very close friends has always been, i guess what you would call 'a portal' or 'gateway' to Christianity for me. I wouldn't call myself a Christian, but i don't just brush it off. I have attended many Alpha courses, services and baptisms, not just because we're close, but because of interest and curiosity. They have so passion towards God and how he is a massive part of their life, so its always intriguing to know where this comes from and why.
I have known and respected God for many years now, even if it is just from an outsider point of view, but if there's anything that i have learnt from being involved with the church, be it only casually... is that life is your choice, but God always has a plan.
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written by Miriam Swaffield , January 27, 2012
I was actually brought up Catholic, but don't consider myself Christian - walked from the faith a long time ago.
Up until I was about 18 I assumed all Christians were like the Christians in my family - ie. they went to church because it was a tradition, because they always had, because it didn't hurt anyone to do so and because it gave them a sense of continuity, and community. I walked from Christianity partly because to me, it felt like going through the motions of something that no-one really had genuine belief in.
Then I met some people, who were another kind of Christian altogether. Who posted books through my letterbox about why I had to believe in God, who got angry at me over a pint of beer because I didn't agree with their faith, who (in one memorable case) played on my fear of imminent death (I was pretty ill) to try to convert me to their brand of Christianity. This didn't particularly convince me to embrace Christianity either.
Then, finally I met a bunch of people who went straight down the middle - alternative Christians a couple of them (they go to Goth Eucharists, apparently) - who had a strong belief who will discuss that, but won't shove it in your face. A quiet faith that doesn't make people uncomfortable.
I guess my point is, asking what people think about Christians is like asking what people think about people. Everyone's different, surely?
I am as uncomfortable with militant atheists as I am with militant Christians, as irritated by apathetic atheists as apathetic Christians. Whatever you think about God/religion, it doesn't check you out of your responsibility to be a good person.
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written by Miriam Swaffield , January 27, 2012
I think on the whole I didn't actually meet that many Christian's at university. Of course, there were a few - all of whom were lovely people, but I personally remember there being a predominantly secular student body (if anyone from Newport reading this begs to differ, please jump in).
I suppose that Christianity at Newport was like any other university team - you had to play ball to join the team - so, from an outside perspective, it could seem quite insular. That's not a criticism of course, I understand completely that people with common beliefs/values/opinions tend to like each others company; just an observation (hypothesis...?).
On occasion it was pleasure to meet a Christian who's actually prepared (enthusiastic) for a little verbal sparring - the editor of the magazine that I interned at (Blown Magazine, in Cardiff) was a great one for that. Technically, that's out of university though...
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written by Miriam Swaffield , January 27, 2012
I don't really have any entertaining stories about meeting/knowing Christians from university, but here is my general feelings!
Most of the people I was friends with who were Christian I didn't really find out for quite a long time, which I suppose could either mean because they didn't feel it was something they needed to preach about, or because they felt embarrassed by it I guess. Hopefully the former.
One guy I didn't even find out he was Christian until I went to his wedding (20-year-old student getting married, should have seen the signs...) but I was really surprised when I did find out. Their wedding was really really religious and it made me pretty uncomfortable to be honest. His sense of humour and personality made him not seem traditionally Christian I suppose, and hand on heart I probably wouldn't have been as good friends with him if he kept mentioning Jesus.
Ha, i'm a d***. But I do get uncomfortable with the topic to be honest because I think (no offence, although I'm sure you've heard this before) that total faith is quite naive and I think it's dangerous to base your life around a hunch.
A lot of people I knew to be Christians at UEA tended to be groups of Nigerian/Ghanaian (West African? Poor geography) students who were more proud of their religion but not exactly preachy about it. The idea of God and a pride in 'Him' seems to be more ingrained in them from their upbringing.
One of my best friends from first year also got married to a guy for whom Christianity was a massive part of his life, and it changed her a lot I think, as she wasn't religious before she met him. I suppose it depends on your outlook but I think she became less fun and more 'sensible' after settling down with him and it really affected our friendship to the point where me and one of my other friends from first year weren't invited, at the expense of lots of people they knew 'from Church' and that hurt a bit, although with hindsight they probably just liked these people more...As I mentioned, I am a d***.
Turns out I have more 'interesting' stories about Christian students than I thought I did. Who knew. You can use that as a quote if you like.
Erm think that's it, I'll let you know if I come up with anything.
Oh, I used to laugh at people who played for the 'Christian Union Football Team' because I thought that sounded a bit pathetic. Then I became friends with a few of them. Then discovered that hardly any of them were Christians, they were just quite good players who didn't want to hang out with the horrible actual football team. Then I respected them more.
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written by Miriam Swaffield , January 27, 2012
Really interesting idea with the 'christians, do not read' blog. Its odd I only discovered that one of my housemates is a christian last week!
She opened with 'I'm not one of those weird christians'
She'd never even made one mention of church or religion at all before, I think I even brought it up first!
But she was talking about how she was looking for a church in brighton, but was struggling due to some bad experiences she'd had with churches in the past
I guess she's what you'd call a liberal christian, and obviously that can create difficulties when looking for others with similar views.
I do think at uni people don't really advertise their religious beliefs, or they go completely the other way and join all the events etc
because uni culture really genuinely is drink/sex/drugs orientated... from my experience anyway (I'm considered unadventurous among my friends, there have been jokes about me joining a convent....)
and maybe its brighton as well, everything in brighton is very very liberal, which i love, but it is a very left wing, guardian reading sort of place... which may or may not clash with typical christian values on some levels. I guess it depends on the individual christian x
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